Tornado watches in effect for much of Iowa, bit of Nebraska

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for most of Iowa and the southeastern edge of Nebraska.

The watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday. The weather service says strong to severe thunderstorms are expected for the area, which includes six counties from Omaha south along the eastern Nebraska border. Large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are possible. Heavy rain and some flash flooding in areas are also anticipated.

The hardest hit areas are expected to be in the southeast half of Iowa.

Exempt from the service’s hazardous weather warning area in Iowa are 11 counties in the state’s northwestern corner, including the cities of Storm Lake and Sioux City.